From the start of the racing career of Martist, trainer Tony Gollan has had his eyes on the Queensland Winter Carnival.
And the major race on the Queensland Winter Carnival calendar for two-year-olds comes up on Saturday with the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Martist is one of 13 runners in the contest and has drawn barrier 12, but the son of Trapeze Artist will have the services of Mark Zahra.
A debut winner at Doomben in February, Martist had one more run, finishing second at Eagle Farm, before being given a brief break to prepare for three Stakes races.
First-up, Martist finished second in the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom (1200m) before stepping to 1400m when third in the BTC Sires’ Produce Stakes on May 30.
Gollan said the stable learned a lot from those two performances.
“From his very first start I targeted the Carnival, that’s why I gave him that extra run and then gave him a short let-up to get ready,” Gollan said.
“I wanted to make sure he had enough prize money to get into these races.
“His Spirit Of Boom run was fantastic. We learned a bit about him that day, ride him a bit quieter and allow him to run on.
“Again, his Sires’ run was fantastic, weaving through horses and not getting a lot of luck.
“He’s a young colt and if we can time our run right, he can be thereabouts on Saturday, in a good race.”
Gollan said Martist would improve with maturity but expects the rise in trip and drawing a little wide to be no disadvantage.
“He’s still a physically immature horse but he’s been blooming throughout this preparation,” Gollan said.
“I couldn’t be happier with his preparation, and he should be spot on for the weekend and the wet weather won’t be a concern either.”
Martist was rated a $10 chance following the barrier draw on Tuesday with the Chris Waller-trained Tron Bolt a pronounced $2.15 top elect having drawn in gate nine.
